Tuesday, August 31, 2010

We've also added some new sizes to our pre-cut eyes and noses too. Now available in Large Tear Drop Eyes (used on Sidney), Small Noses (used on Sidney and Salem), and Miko's "Kidney-Shaped" noses. Check them all out here in our new "Tear Bear Pre-Cuts" category. Mix and Match them up to change the appearance of your Beary Sweet Critters!

Order any or all of our NEW patterns before midnight Friday, September 3 2010 and receive a 1/2 sheet of each color mulberry paper used to create our samples. This offer is only good for our NEW releases.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Today is Elise's final day as a Beary Scrappy Girl, and we're celebrating her friendship with a surprise Farewell Elise Blog Hop!

We are sad to see her go and will miss her with all our hearts. We have delighted in her creations week after week and benefited greatly from her uplifting comments.

Elise, you are very special to each of us. As a way to recognize this, we've all played secret crafters and planners. We love a good surprise! Here are our projects, and please visit each of our blogs as we reflect on our time with you. {{big hugs}}

Please visit each blog, and as you're crying along with us, be sure to become a follower if you're not already *and* leave a comment. Please post our candy on your blog, too. At the end, come back here to The Beary Scrap Design Team blog and let us know you followed along - you could win (even if you're international)!

"Farwell Elise" Blog Hop Candy

The hop is open through Saturday, September 4th, and we'll announce a random winner from all the comments on Sunday. The prize is an assortment of embellishments* that defines Elise's fabulous style on her projects: satin and sheer ribbons, lace, pearls, pins, little baubles and delicious flowers flowers flowers!

Thanks for helping us bid a fond farewell to Elise! Oh, and don't forget to pop on over to her beautiful blog - Paper Love Affair.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Hello Friends! I hope you are having a great weekend so far. Mine has been FAB-U-LOUS so far.

Today, I was taken by surprise when my dear friend, and our DT Coordinator, Susan came walking into the shop without any notice. All I can say is I was filled with JOY and the tears were running from my eyes. She had been at a bead show in Philadelphia and decided to drive the extra 2 hours north to visit. This was the first time we've been able to meet in person.

Some of the ladies (an gentlemen) had the luxury witnessing this highly emotional moment and had the pleasure of meeting one of our Beary Sweet Celebrities. Susan brought a few of her cards to show us. OH, the internet does them no justice... seeing them all up close and in person was amazing. The detail she puts in every one is amazing. There is no doubt she invests hours when she's creating them. Intricate cuts and loads of layers Most of her images are cut and layered with 3D effects.

We got to spend most of the afternoon together. In between customers, we *drooled* over paper sample we received from various manufacturers. I showed her a few of the lines that are coming in next week. We admired all the layouts created by our in-store designers, Sharon, Michelle and Suzie. Their layouts are displayed throughout the walls in the store. Susan even got to see how much of a mess I made out of our work room. Yes, I managed to pile up all sorts of stuff on 4 tables to the point that I can't find them any longer - LOL.

It was an AWESOME day! After she left, it dawned on me that I didn't have my camera... I'm sure neither one of us gave it a thought until after the fact. That's okay. I'm sure we will be getting together more often... even if I have to find my way to Maryland. Susan, I'm sending you more {{{HUGS}}}. I'm still excited about our visit today!!!

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Product News:

We have two (2) new Christmas lines by Echo Park coming early September. I am lovin' these papers! They are too pretty to even cut.

Merry Christmas

Everybody Loves Christmas

We have more goodies coming in next week too. Don't forget, Happy Halloween by Echo Park is coming.. I can't wait to get my hands on it. I haven't found the time to load it on the website. I promise to have it up by the end of the weekend.

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Website Updates:

We've added a new section to our website. It's the LAST STOP Clearance section. All items in this category are marked down 40% to 60% off the MSRP. New items will be added daily. You won't want to miss out on these great prices!

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In just a few days, I will be announcing something fun that will be taking place at the store. We will be sending out newsletters and posting some info on the blog.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

So just who is Echo Park? Echo Park Paper Co. is a brand new company formed in April 2010. This is by no doubt the kind of company that we love to have in our store. Organized by one fine gentleman with oodles of experience in the paper crafting world, Echo Park offers a unique approach to style, form and format. Each collection includes a themed set of 12 papers and 2 sticker sheets that coordinate beautifully together. With bright, happy colors and easy-to-use designs, these collections offer simple sophistication that will satisfy both the novice and the expert crafter alike. Not so overwhelmed with embellishments and plenty of room to use up your current stash.

We had such an amazing response when we introduced Echo Parks Paper Kits Life is Good and A Walk in the Park that we decided to continue the run and order in the next line.

Introducing HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Just take a look at these amazing papers. We are elated to bring in the entire collection, single sheets, element stickers, alpha stickers and the collection packs to the store.

Halloween Border Stripe

Costume Party

Spider Webs

Graveyard

Trick or Treat

Magic Stripes

Bat Festival

Spooky Dots

Haunted House

Happy Haunting

Jack O Lantern

Scary Story Cards

Element Stickers

Alpha Stickers (love all the sizes!)

Our shipment should be here in just a few days. All papers will be available for online ordering as well as in our storefront. Remember, when you order from us online, you aren't just ordering from another online store... you are helping to keep our local scrapbook store in Shavertown PA open. We'd like to thank so many of you for traveling from near and far to visit us.... Missouri, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, all around PA and so many other states I can't even remember without my notes in hand! Thanks so much for your continued support!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Over the past few days I have received several emails from many of our "Tear Bear Pattern" fans aimlessly searching for our new release of our Sidney the Skunk "tear bear" pattern. I couldn't figure out why until it was brought to my attention that a similar looking skunk paper piecing has been spotted on a 2 page layout on ebay. Sidney's pattern is currently in production and will be release in the upcoming weeks. Even our DT gals don't have her yet.

Images of our upcoming Skunk pattern were posted to our Facebook account on July 23 at 9:52pm and two separate listing were sold by us on Ebay on July 28, and July 29. It is obvious that someone was inspired enough by our little creation that they create their own similar paper piecing.

I'm happy to inspire creativity and enjoy posting images of designs that are in progress during our test phases. A lot of work goes into transforming something I created with mulberry paper into an acrylic pattern that will produce the same results over and over again. Sharing the design process provides us with feedback that we rely on to keep moving forward by producing a product we are proud of and our customers can enjoy. We are a consumer driven business and your opinions count the most. In hindsight, this has to be the "best" feedback we've ever received on an upcoming release even though it is wrong in so many ways. I'm not angry... just disappointed.

With that said, Sidney (named by my daughter Abby) will be released in the upcoming weeks along with a few other adorable Beary Sweet Designs Patterns.

Copic Sketch Markers are being liquidated from our store inventory for the time being. Grab them now while the price is HOT. Was $6.49 On SALE! $4.87 Limited quantities are remaining. Check them out HERE.

This week, it's Sharon's turn. Everyone deserves to be the Queen, but when it comes down to "Cute and Cuddly" I'm not sure who wins here...

Sharon totally rocked Pink Paislee's Queen Bee Collection. Not only that, she kicked it up a few notches by creating her own spin on those adorable mulberry paper piecings representing her adorable furbabies! Just take a look...

The pre-pleated ribbons from this collection allows you to add that great look without pulling the sewing machine out of storage - oh yeah, I like it. She added some gorgeous Prima Trellis flowers with a hint of Stickles and a few crocheted flowers that were made by our friend Leslie. Accented with a few Kaiser Craft pearls from our $1.00 bin, a bit of distressing with some Colorbox Fluid Chalk (chestnut roan, I believe) and you've got one amazing layout!

I hope Sharon has inspired your Scrapbooking Queen within! Head on over to our website and pick up some of these gorgeous papers and embellishments while we've got them on SALE!!!

Friday, August 6, 2010

I received some VERY good news today! The long awaiting PINK ATG's are being released from the warehouse today. I WILL have them either Tuesday or Wednesday next week!! All pre-orders that were paid in full will be processed and shipped immediately upon receipt. All orders placed at our retail store will be available for pick up on no earlier than FRIDAY, August 13.

I also have extras coming in, along with some cancelled orders that will increase our inventory/availability. I will have them available online as soon as all the pre-orders are filled and inventory is taken.

Thank goodness, this nightmare is almost over. Thanks for hanging in there girls!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Probably one of the most beautiful paper lines I have ever seen is the Laundry Line by My Mind's Eye. It is a heavy, one-sided paper that has been coated with glitter and has a beautiful distressed appearance. When this line was first introduced almost 2 years ago, I think MME was ahead of the times in the scrapbooking world. I had seen more people stare at our display with intimidation and shy away from it. Today, you see similar prints with other manufacturers and I am watching more and more people simply fall in love with these papers. I've got to tell you, it's got to be one of the easiest lines to work with. Don't be afraid that it is glittered. The shimmer is very subtle, and it doesn't fall off.

"Family"

by Michelle

This layout is stunning! I absolutely love how Michelle utilized the prints in this collection. All of her photos were printed in Sepia. She even used some really neat techniques in this layout.

Michelle used the ribbon and trim from the collection. The tone was a bit to bright for her, so she soaked the trim in tea for about 5 minutes and laid it flat to dry before attaching it to her layout. Notice the little butterflies? She punched out two, layered them just by gluing the centers together and folded up the wings.

Lastly, Michelle experimented with some Tim Holtz Crackle Paint and the effects are quite amazing. If you haven't tried this stuff you don't know what your are missing. She painted around her photo and allowed it to dry and then curled up the corners.